Regulations for safe and effective disposal of hazardous waste | iGuide

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Regulations on hazardous waste disposal

Hazardous waste management is an important issue in environmental management, due to the negative impacts it can have on human health and the ecosystem. Vietnamese law has issued many strict regulations on the collection, transportation and treatment of hazardous waste to ensure environmental safety. Enterprises and organizations are responsible for complying with these regulations to minimize risks and protect the environment. This article will provide detailed information on current regulations, helping you better understand your responsibilities and obligations in hazardous waste management.

1. What is waste treatment?

According to Clause 8, Article 3 of Decree 08/2022/ND-CP, waste treatment is the process of using technological and technical solutions (different from preliminary processing) to reduce, eliminate, isolate, quarantine, incinerate, destroy, and bury waste and harmful elements in waste.

2. Regulations on hazardous waste treatment

Hazardous waste treatment is regulated in Article 84 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 as follows:

- Hazardous waste must be treated with appropriate technology and comply with environmental protection laws.

- The State encourages and has preferential policies for organizations and individuals to participate in investing and providing hazardous waste treatment services; encourages investment in facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services at the regional level; and encourages co-treatment of hazardous waste.

- Facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services must meet the following requirements:

+ Comply with the national environmental protection plan or plan with content on hazardous waste treatment, except for the case of facilities co-treating hazardous waste;

+ Ensure environmental safety distance according to regulations;

+ Hazardous waste treatment technology must be assessed and commented upon according to the provisions of law on technology transfer; encourage the application of environmentally friendly technology, the best available techniques, treatment technology combined with energy recovery;

+ Have environmental license;

+ Have personnel in charge of environmental protection trained in environmental or relevant professional fields;

+ Have safe operating procedures for technology, vehicles, and specialized equipment;

+ Have an environmental management plan including pollution control and waste management; labor safety, labor hygiene; prevention and response to environmental incidents; annual training and periodic training; environmental monitoring program; assessment of hazardous waste treatment effectiveness; pollution treatment plan, environmental improvement after completion of activities;

+ Environmental protection deposit according to regulations in Article 137 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 in case of waste burial activities.

- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issues criteria on hazardous waste treatment technology;

Guidance on implementation of pollution control and waste management; labor safety, labor hygiene; prevention and response to environmental incidents; annual training and periodic training; environmental monitoring program; assessment of the effectiveness of hazardous waste treatment; pollution treatment plan, environmental improvement after completion of activities;

- Provincial People's Committees organize the implementation of planning with contents on hazardous waste treatment; do not restrict the collection of hazardous waste arising in other provincial administrative units for treatment at facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services in the area.